Ex-Laker Releases Strong Statement on Getting Traded in Offseason

The 2021 Lakers roster looks a lot different than the one that won the title inside the NBA bubble in Orlando. Dwight Howard is not a Laker this season. The front office traded JaVale McGee. The ex-Laker spoke on the fact that he was traded in the offseason. General Manager Rob Pelinka brought Marc Gasol and Montrezl Harrell as a replacement. The newly-added players are smaller and don’t have the same physique as McGee and Howard.

It was a calculated move and LA has a good record at this point of the season. However,  Lakers head coach Frank Vogel could really use McGee on the floor. McGee didn’t have a big role in the playoffs, but he did have a key role for the team during the regular season. Moreover, McGee started every game with the Lakers. One thing stands for sure. McGee feels great about the Lakers.

The ex-Laker shared what it feels like to be traded in the offseason

The big man appeared on the Posted Up podcast to talk about the trade. Believe it or not, McGee wasn’t really surprised.

“It didn’t catch me by surprise, but I didn’t know already either,” McGee said. “It was just I had been on six teams already, you know what I’m saying? In my whole life I’ve never lived nowhere longer than two years. Even before the NBA. I’ve never been that person who just sets their feet in the ground and gets their roots in a place and is like ‘OK I’m comfortable.’ I’m never comfortable. Ever. I’m always on edge to where I’ve got to fight. I’ve always been that person. And I’m OK with that. I’ve always been that person.

“So when they traded me to Cleveland I was like ‘oh, all right, I’m going to Cleveland.’ (laughs) That was it. It wasn’t ‘oh, man, I’m sad for myself, I feel bad for myself.’ None of that, nah. I’m going Cleveland, I’m making more money than I made last year. You’ve got to count your blessings and realize you’re in the National Basketball Association with a brotherhood of 450 players only, and the average career is 3-4 years. That’s it. I’ve tripled that.

“So I’m like ‘you’ve got to count your blessings and take advantage of the opportunity when it comes,’ and that’s another example of it. When I get my time to shine here in Cleveland when I play, I play. So that’s what it is.”

Los Angeles has one major problem at the moment. Anthony Davis is dealing with a serious injury and he will miss some time on the floor. He didn’t play his best basketball in the first part of the season. AD has missed five games and may miss even more.